1
|
Chung KP, Frieboese D, Waltz F, Engel BD, Bock R. Identification and characterization of the COPII vesicle-forming GTPase Sar1 in Chlamydomonas. PLANT DIRECT 2024; 8:e614. [PMID: 38887666 PMCID: PMC11180857 DOI: 10.1002/pld3.614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
Eukaryotic cells are highly compartmentalized, requiring elaborate transport mechanisms to facilitate the movement of proteins between membrane-bound compartments. Most proteins synthesized in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) are transported to the Golgi apparatus through COPII-mediated vesicular trafficking. Sar1, a small GTPase that facilitates the formation of COPII vesicles, plays a critical role in the early steps of this protein secretory pathway. Sar1 was characterized in yeast, animals and plants, but no Sar1 homolog has been identified and functionally analyzed in algae. Here we identified a putative Sar1 homolog (CrSar1) in the model green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii through amino acid sequence similarity. We employed site-directed mutagenesis to generate a dominant-negative mutant of CrSar1 (CrSar1DN). Using protein secretion assays, we demonstrate the inhibitory effect of CrSar1DN on protein secretion. However, different from previously studied organisms, ectopic expression of CrSar1DN did not result in collapse of the ER-Golgi interface in Chlamydomonas. Nonetheless, our data suggest a largely conserved role of CrSar1 in the ER-to-Golgi protein secretory pathway in green algae.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kin Pan Chung
- Max‐Planck‐Institut für Molekulare PflanzenphysiologiePotsdamGermany
| | - Daniel Frieboese
- Max‐Planck‐Institut für Molekulare PflanzenphysiologiePotsdamGermany
| | | | | | - Ralph Bock
- Max‐Planck‐Institut für Molekulare PflanzenphysiologiePotsdamGermany
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Nievergelt AP, Diener DR, Bogdanova A, Brown T, Pigino G. Efficient precision editing of endogenous Chlamydomonas reinhardtii genes with CRISPR-Cas. CELL REPORTS METHODS 2023; 3:100562. [PMID: 37671018 PMCID: PMC10475843 DOI: 10.1016/j.crmeth.2023.100562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Revised: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/07/2023]
Abstract
CRISPR-Cas genome engineering in the unicellular green algal model Chlamydomonas reinhardtii has until now been primarily applied to targeted gene disruption, whereas scarless knockin transgenesis has generally been considered difficult in practice. We have developed an efficient homology-directed method for knockin mutagenesis in Chlamydomonas by delivering CRISPR-Cas ribonucleoproteins and a linear double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) donor into cells by electroporation. Our method allows scarless integration of fusion tags and sequence modifications of proteins without the need for a preceding mutant line. We also present methods for high-throughput crossing of transformants and a custom quantitative PCR (qPCR)-based high-throughput screening of mutants as well as meiotic progeny. We demonstrate how to use this pipeline to facilitate the generation of mutant lines without residual selectable markers by co-targeted insertion. Finally, we describe how insertional cassettes can be erroneously mutated during insertion and suggest strategies to select for lines that are modified as designed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Adrian Pascal Nievergelt
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstraße 108, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Dennis Ray Diener
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstraße 108, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Aliona Bogdanova
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstraße 108, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Thomas Brown
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstraße 108, 01307 Dresden, Germany
- DRESDEN-concept Genome Center (DcGC), Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Gaia Pigino
- Human Technopole, V.le Rita Levi-Montalcini, 1, 20017 Milan, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Dávalos-Guzmán SD, Martinez-Gutierrez F, Martínez-González L, Quezada-Rivera JJ, Lorenzo-Leal AC, Bach H, Morales-Domínguez JF, Soria-Guerra RE. Antimicrobial activity of the Flo peptide produced in Scenedesmus acutus and Nannochloropsis oculata. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 2023; 39:211. [PMID: 37249711 DOI: 10.1007/s11274-023-03664-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
The continuous increase of bacterial pathogen resistance to conventional antibiotics has challenged the research community to develop new antimicrobial strategies. Antimicrobial peptides (AMP) are a promising alternative to combat multidrug-resistant strains compared to conventional antibiotics because of their biocompatibility. In the present study, the Flo peptide, an AMP from the Moringa oleifera tree, was expressed in the chloroplast of the microalgae Nannochloropsis oculata and Scenedesmus acutus. The transgene insertion was verified by PCR amplification, and the homoplasmy was corroborated in spectinomycin-resistant lines. The identification and quantification of the peptide were performed using ELISA. The antimicrobial activity was studied against the Gram-negative Escherichia coli (ATCC 25,922) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (ATCC 700,603). The inflammatory response of the total soluble proteins of transplastomic N. oculata was assessed by measuring secretion of the cytokines IL-6, IL-10, and alpha-tumor necrosis (TNF-α), and cytotoxicity was assessed. These results provide a potential strategy to produce the Flo peptide in microalgae with antibacterial activities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Saraí Damaris Dávalos-Guzmán
- Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Av. Dr. Manuel Nava No.6, Zona Universitaria, San Luis Potosí, C.P. 78210, México
| | - Fidel Martinez-Gutierrez
- Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Av. Dr. Manuel Nava No.6, Zona Universitaria, San Luis Potosí, C.P. 78210, México
- Centro de Investigación en Ciencias de la Salud y Biomedicina, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, México
| | - Luzmila Martínez-González
- Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Av. Dr. Manuel Nava No.6, Zona Universitaria, San Luis Potosí, C.P. 78210, México
| | - Jesús Josafath Quezada-Rivera
- Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango, Av. Universidad s/n, Fracc. Filadelfia, Gómez Palacio, Durango, CP. 35010, México
| | - Ana Cecilia Lorenzo-Leal
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Horacio Bach
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - José Francisco Morales-Domínguez
- Universidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes, Av. Universidad No. 940, Ciudad Universitaria, Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes, C.P. 20100, México
| | - Ruth Elena Soria-Guerra
- Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Av. Dr. Manuel Nava No.6, Zona Universitaria, San Luis Potosí, C.P. 78210, México.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Perozeni F, Pivato M, Angelini M, Maricchiolo E, Pompa A, Ballottari M. Towards microalga-based superfoods: heterologous expression of zeolin in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1184064. [PMID: 37229116 PMCID: PMC10203602 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1184064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Microalgae are unicellular photosynthetic organisms that can be grown in artificial systems to capture CO2, release oxygen, use nitrogen- and phosphorus-rich wastes, and produce biomass and bioproducts of interest including edible biomass for space exploration. In the present study, we report a metabolic engineering strategy for the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii to produce high-value proteins for nutritional purposes. Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is a species approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for human consumption, and its consumption has been reported to improve gastrointestinal health in both murine models and humans. By utilizing the biotechnological tools available for this green alga, we introduced a synthetic gene encoding a chimeric protein, zeolin, obtained by merging the γ-zein and phaseolin proteins, in the algal genome. Zein and phaseolin are major seed storage proteins of maize (Zea mays) and bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) that accumulate in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and storage vacuoles, respectively. Seed storage proteins have unbalanced amino acid content, and for this reason, need to be complemented with each other in the diet. The chimeric recombinant zeolin protein represents an amino acid storage strategy with a balanced amino acid profile. Zeolin protein was thus efficiently expressed in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii; thus, we obtained strains that accumulate this recombinant protein in the endoplasmic reticulum, reaching a concentration up to 5.5 fg cell-1, or secrete it in the growth medium, with a titer value up to 82 µg/L, enabling the production of microalga-based super-food.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Federico Perozeni
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Università degli Studi di Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Matteo Pivato
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Università degli Studi di Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Margherita Angelini
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Università degli Studi di Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Elisa Maricchiolo
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomolecolari, Università degli Studi di Urbino, Urbino, Italy
| | - Andrea Pompa
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomolecolari, Università degli Studi di Urbino, Urbino, Italy
| | - Matteo Ballottari
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Università degli Studi di Verona, Verona, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Zhu X, Ricci-Tam C, Hager ER, Sgro AE. Self-cleaving peptides for expression of multiple genes in Dictyostelium discoideum. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0281211. [PMID: 36862626 PMCID: PMC9980757 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0281211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum is a model for a wide range of biological processes including chemotaxis, cell-cell communication, phagocytosis, and development. Interrogating these processes with modern genetic tools often requires the expression of multiple transgenes. While it is possible to transfect multiple transcriptional units, the use of separate promoters and terminators for each gene leads to large plasmid sizes and possible interference between units. In many eukaryotic systems this challenge has been addressed through polycistronic expression mediated by 2A viral peptides, permitting efficient, co-regulated gene expression. Here, we screen the most commonly used 2A peptides, porcine teschovirus-1 2A (P2A), Thosea asigna virus 2A (T2A), equine rhinitis A virus 2A (E2A), and foot-and-mouth disease virus 2A (F2A), for activity in D. discoideum and find that all the screened 2A sequences are effective. However, combining the coding sequences of two proteins into a single transcript leads to notable strain-dependent decreases in expression level, suggesting additional factors regulate gene expression in D. discoideum that merit further investigation. Our results show that P2A is the optimal sequence for polycistronic expression in D. discoideum, opening up new possibilities for genetic engineering in this model system.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xinwen Zhu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States of America
- Biological Design Center, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Chiara Ricci-Tam
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States of America
- Biological Design Center, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Emily R. Hager
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States of America
- Biological Design Center, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Allyson E. Sgro
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States of America
- Biological Design Center, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Kong F, Li M, Liu K, Ge Y, Yamasaki T, Beyly-Adriano A, Ohama T, Li-Beisson Y. Efficient approaches for nuclear transgene stacking in the unicellular green microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. ALGAL RES 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.algal.2023.103048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/11/2023]
|
7
|
Masi A, Leonelli F, Scognamiglio V, Gasperuzzo G, Antonacci A, Terzidis MA. Chlamydomonas reinhardtii: A Factory of Nutraceutical and Food Supplements for Human Health. Molecules 2023; 28:molecules28031185. [PMID: 36770853 PMCID: PMC9921279 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28031185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Chlamydomonas reinhardtii (C. reinhardtii) is one of the most well-studied microalgae organisms that revealed important information for the photosynthetic and metabolic processes of plants and eukaryotes. Numerous extensive studies have also underpinned its great potential as a biochemical factory, capable of producing various highly desired molecules with a direct impact on human health and longevity. Polysaccharides, lipids, functional proteins, pigments, hormones, vaccines, and antibodies are among the valuable biomolecules that are produced spontaneously or under well-defined conditions by C. reinhardtii and can be directly linked to human nutrition and diet. The aim of this review is to highlight the recent advances in the field focusing on the most relevant applications related to the production of important biomolecules for human health that are also linked with human nutrition and diet. The limitations and challenges are critically discussed along with the potential future applications of C. reinhardtii biomass and processed products in the field of nutraceuticals and food supplements. The increasing need for high-value and low-cost biomolecules produced in an environmentally and economy sustainable manner also underline the important role of C. reinhardtii.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Annalisa Masi
- Institute of Crystallography, National Research Council, 00010 Montelibretti, Italy
| | - Francesca Leonelli
- Department of Chemistry, University of Rome “Sapienza”, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Viviana Scognamiglio
- Institute of Crystallography, National Research Council, 00010 Montelibretti, Italy
| | - Giulia Gasperuzzo
- Institute of Crystallography, National Research Council, 00010 Montelibretti, Italy
| | - Amina Antonacci
- Institute of Crystallography, National Research Council, 00010 Montelibretti, Italy
- Correspondence: (A.A.); (M.A.T.); Tel.: +39-0690675597 (A.A.); +30-2310013224 (M.A.T.)
| | - Michael A. Terzidis
- Department of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, International Hellenic University, Sindos Campus, 57400 Thessaloniki, Greece
- Correspondence: (A.A.); (M.A.T.); Tel.: +39-0690675597 (A.A.); +30-2310013224 (M.A.T.)
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Pervaiz R, Khan MA, Raza FA, Ahmad S, Zafar AU, Ahmed N, Akram M. Expression of a mosquito larvicidal gene in chloroplast and nuclear compartments of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. J Biotechnol 2022; 360:182-191. [PMID: 36368638 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2022.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Revised: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
As a part of the search for environment-friendly biocontrol of mosquito-borne diseases, mosquito larvicidal potential of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. jegathesan (Btj) Cry toxins is explored for toxins with increased toxicity. Safe delivery of the Cry toxins to mosquito larvae in aquatic habitats is a major concern. This is because in water bodies Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) protein formulations degrade by sunlight, can sink down and get adsorbed by the silt. So, because of its short persistence the toxin requires repeated applications at the given site. Therefore, an upcoming approach is incorporating the Bt toxins in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii (C. reinhardtii) because it is a food of mosquito larvae in water and its molecular toolkit is well investigated for foreign gene expression. The present work aimed to compare the feasibility of C. reinhardtii chloroplast and nuclear compartments for stable expression of Cry11Ba toxin as this is the most toxic Btj protein to date, lethal to different mosquito species. With chloroplast expression of cry11Ba gene we were able to generate marker-free C. reinhardtii strain stably expressing Cry11Ba protein and demonstrating mortality against Aedes aegypti larvae. Moreover, for nuclear expression linking the cry11Ba gene to zeocin via foot and mouth disease virus (FMDV) 2A peptide resulted in the selection of transformants with increased cry11Ba mRNA expression levels by semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR. Obtained results lay a foundation for the C. reinhardtii chloroplast expression system to be used for genetic engineering with Bt toxins which possess enhanced toxicity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rabbia Pervaiz
- Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology, University of the Punjab, 87-West Canal Road, Thokar Niaz Baig Sector-1, Lahore 53700, Pakistan.
| | - Mohsin Ahmad Khan
- Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology, University of the Punjab, 87-West Canal Road, Thokar Niaz Baig Sector-1, Lahore 53700, Pakistan
| | - Faiz Ahmed Raza
- Health Research Institute, National Institute of Health (HRI-NIH), Research Centre, King Edward Medical University, Lahore 54000, Pakistan
| | - Sohail Ahmad
- Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology, University of the Punjab, 87-West Canal Road, Thokar Niaz Baig Sector-1, Lahore 53700, Pakistan
| | - Ahmad Usman Zafar
- Qarshi University, 8-Km Thokar Niaz Baig, Canal Bank Road, Opposite Izmir Town, Lahore 54000, Pakistan
| | - Nadeem Ahmed
- Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology, University of the Punjab, 87-West Canal Road, Thokar Niaz Baig Sector-1, Lahore 53700, Pakistan
| | - Maham Akram
- Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology, University of the Punjab, 87-West Canal Road, Thokar Niaz Baig Sector-1, Lahore 53700, Pakistan
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Gutiérrez S, Wellman GB, Lauersen KJ. Teaching an old ‘doc’ new tricks for algal biotechnology: Strategic filter use enables multi-scale fluorescent protein signal detection. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:979607. [PMID: 36213064 PMCID: PMC9540369 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.979607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Fluorescent proteins (FPs) are powerful reporters with a broad range of applications in gene expression and subcellular localization. High-throughput screening is often required to identify individual transformed cell lines in organisms that favor non-homologous-end-joining integration of transgenes into genomes, like in the model green microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Strategic transgene design, including genetic fusion of transgenes to FPs, and strain domestication have aided engineering efforts in this host but have not removed the need for screening large numbers of transformants to identify those with robust transgene expression levels. FPs facilitate transformant screening by providing a visual signal indicating transgene expression. However, limited combinations of FPs have been described in alga and inherent background fluorescence from cell pigments can hinder FP detection efforts depending on available infrastructure. Here, an updated set of algal nuclear genome-domesticated plasmid parts for seven FPs and six epitope tags were generated and tested in C. reinhardtii. Strategic filter selection was found to enable detection of up to five independent FPs signals from cyan to far-red separately from inherent chlorophyll fluorescence in live algae at the agar plate-level and also in protein electrophoresis gels. This work presents technical advances for algal engineering that can assist reporter detection efforts in other photosynthetic host cells or organisms with inherent background fluorescence.
Collapse
|
10
|
Torres-Tiji Y, Fields FJ, Yang Y, Heredia V, Horn SJ, Keremane SR, Jin MM, Mayfield SP. Optimized production of a bioactive human recombinant protein from the microalgae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii grown at high density in a fed-batch bioreactor. ALGAL RES 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.algal.2022.102786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
|
11
|
Ren X, Liu Y, Fan C, Hong H, Wu W, Zhang W, Wang Y. Production, Processing, and Protection of Microalgal n-3 PUFA-Rich Oil. Foods 2022; 11:foods11091215. [PMID: 35563938 PMCID: PMC9101592 DOI: 10.3390/foods11091215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Revised: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Microalgae have been increasingly considered as a sustainable “biofactory” with huge potentials to fill up the current and future shortages of food and nutrition. They have become an economically and technologically viable solution to produce a great diversity of high-value bioactive compounds, including n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). The n-3 PUFA, especially eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), possess an array of biological activities and positively affect a number of diseases, including cardiovascular and neurodegenerative disorders. As such, the global market of n-3 PUFA has been increasing at a fast pace in the past two decades. Nowadays, the supply of n-3 PUFA is facing serious challenges as a result of global warming and maximal/over marine fisheries catches. Although increasing rapidly in recent years, aquaculture as an alternative source of n-3 PUFA appears insufficient to meet the fast increase in consumption and market demand. Therefore, the cultivation of microalgae stands out as a potential solution to meet the shortages of the n-3 PUFA market and provides unique fatty acids for the special groups of the population. This review focuses on the biosynthesis pathways and recombinant engineering approaches that can be used to enhance the production of n-3 PUFA, the impact of environmental conditions in heterotrophic cultivation on n-3 PUFA production, and the technologies that have been applied in the food industry to extract and purify oil in microalgae and protect n-3 PUFA from oxidation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Ren
- INNOBIO Corporation Limited, No. 49, DDA, Dalian 116600, China; (Y.L.); (C.F.); (H.H.); (W.W.)
- Correspondence: (X.R.); (Y.W.); Tel.: +86-411-65864645 (X.R.); +1-902-566-7953 (Y.W.)
| | - Yanjun Liu
- INNOBIO Corporation Limited, No. 49, DDA, Dalian 116600, China; (Y.L.); (C.F.); (H.H.); (W.W.)
| | - Chao Fan
- INNOBIO Corporation Limited, No. 49, DDA, Dalian 116600, China; (Y.L.); (C.F.); (H.H.); (W.W.)
| | - Hao Hong
- INNOBIO Corporation Limited, No. 49, DDA, Dalian 116600, China; (Y.L.); (C.F.); (H.H.); (W.W.)
| | - Wenzhong Wu
- INNOBIO Corporation Limited, No. 49, DDA, Dalian 116600, China; (Y.L.); (C.F.); (H.H.); (W.W.)
| | - Wei Zhang
- DeOxiTech Consulting, 30 Cloverfield Court, Dartmouth, NS B2W 0B3, Canada;
| | - Yanwen Wang
- Aquatic and Crop Resource Development Research Centre, National Research Council of Canada, 550 University Avenue, Charlottetown, PE C1A 4P3, Canada
- Correspondence: (X.R.); (Y.W.); Tel.: +86-411-65864645 (X.R.); +1-902-566-7953 (Y.W.)
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Huang G, Zhao D, Lan C, Wu B, Li X, Lou S, Zheng Y, Huang Y, Hu Z, Jia B. Glucose-assisted trophic conversion of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii by expression of glucose transporter GLUT1. ALGAL RES 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.algal.2021.102626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
|
13
|
Südfeld C, Pozo-Rodríguez A, Manjavacas Díez SA, Wijffels RH, Barbosa MJ, D'Adamo S. The nucleolus as a genomic safe harbor for strong gene expression in Nannochloropsis oceanica. MOLECULAR PLANT 2022; 15:340-353. [PMID: 34775107 DOI: 10.1016/j.molp.2021.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Microalgae are used in food and feed, and they are considered a potential feedstock for sustainably produced chemicals and biofuel. However, production of microalgal-derived chemicals is not yet economically feasible. Genetic engineering could bridge the gap to industrial application and facilitate the production of novel products from microalgae. Here, we report the discovery of a novel gene expression system in the oleaginous microalga Nannochloropsis that exploits the highly efficient transcriptional activity of RNA polymerase I and an internal ribosome entry site for translation. We identified the nucleolus as a genomic safe harbor for Pol I transcription and used it to construct transformant strains with consistently strong transgene expression. The new expression system provides an outstanding tool for genetic and metabolic engineering of microalgae and thus will probably make substantial contributions to microalgal research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christian Südfeld
- Wageningen University, Bioprocess Engineering, PO Box 16, 6700 AA Wageningen, Netherlands.
| | - Ana Pozo-Rodríguez
- Wageningen University, Bioprocess Engineering, PO Box 16, 6700 AA Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Sara A Manjavacas Díez
- Wageningen University, Bioprocess Engineering, PO Box 16, 6700 AA Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - René H Wijffels
- Wageningen University, Bioprocess Engineering, PO Box 16, 6700 AA Wageningen, Netherlands; Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture, Nord University, 8049 Bodø, Norway
| | - Maria J Barbosa
- Wageningen University, Bioprocess Engineering, PO Box 16, 6700 AA Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Sarah D'Adamo
- Wageningen University, Bioprocess Engineering, PO Box 16, 6700 AA Wageningen, Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Kona R, Mohan SV. Draft genome analysis, poly-phasic study and lipid biosynthesis pathway of Scenedesmus sp. SVMIICT1. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2021; 341:125809. [PMID: 34479141 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2021.125809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Revised: 08/14/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
A comprehensive polyphasic evaluation of a microalgal isolate Scenedesmus sp. SVMIICT1 through morphological, biochemical, photosynthetic characterization, next-generation sequencing and lipid pathway analysis was reported. The strain was cultivated photo-autotrophically, where the maximum photosynthetic yield (FV/FM) of 0.75 was observed on the 4th day with optimal PSII photochemical efficiency. Enhanced electron transport rate (ETR(I)) with inhibitor 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea (DCMU) resulted in cyclic electron flow. A fair share of carbohydrate content (36 µg/mg) was ascribed to the presence of pyrenoid towards higher CO2 sequestration pursuant to carbon concentrating mechanism (CCM). Denovo sequencing of the genome was assembled, annotated for the prediction of gene and protein. KEGG automatic annotation server (KAAS) analysis depicted the presence of genes accompanying the biosynthesis of the glycerophospholipid pathway. Fatty acid profile represented a higher fraction of palmitic acid (C16:0; 41.6%) followed by alpha-linolenic acid (C18:3; 44.5%).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rajesh Kona
- Bioengineering and Environmental Sciences (BEES) Lab, Department of Energy and Environmental Engineering, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (CSIR-IICT), Hyderabad 500007, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - S Venkata Mohan
- Bioengineering and Environmental Sciences (BEES) Lab, Department of Energy and Environmental Engineering, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (CSIR-IICT), Hyderabad 500007, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Geisler K, Scaife MA, Mordaka PM, Holzer A, Tomsett EV, Mehrshahi P, Mendoza Ochoa GI, Smith AG. Exploring the Impact of Terminators on Transgene Expression in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii with a Synthetic Biology Approach. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:life11090964. [PMID: 34575113 PMCID: PMC8471596 DOI: 10.3390/life11090964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2021] [Revised: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Chlamydomonas reinhardtii has many attractive features for use as a model organism for both fundamental studies and as a biotechnological platform. Nonetheless, despite the many molecular tools and resources that have been developed, there are challenges for its successful engineering, in particular to obtain reproducible and high levels of transgene expression. Here we describe a synthetic biology approach to screen several hundred independent transformants using standardised parts to explore different parameters that might affect transgene expression. We focused on terminators and, using a standardised workflow and quantitative outputs, tested 9 different elements representing three different size classes of native terminators to determine their ability to support high level expression of a GFP reporter gene. We found that the optimal size reflected the median size of element found in the C. reinhardtii genome. The behaviour of the terminator parts was similar with different promoters, in different host strains and with different transgenes. This approach is applicable to the systematic testing of other genetic elements, facilitating comparison to determine optimal transgene design.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katrin Geisler
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EA, UK; (K.G.); (M.A.S.); (P.M.M.); (A.H.); (E.V.T.); (P.M.); (G.I.M.O.)
| | - Mark A. Scaife
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EA, UK; (K.G.); (M.A.S.); (P.M.M.); (A.H.); (E.V.T.); (P.M.); (G.I.M.O.)
- Mara Renewables Corporation, Dartmouth, NS B2Y 4T6, Canada
| | - Paweł M. Mordaka
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EA, UK; (K.G.); (M.A.S.); (P.M.M.); (A.H.); (E.V.T.); (P.M.); (G.I.M.O.)
| | - Andre Holzer
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EA, UK; (K.G.); (M.A.S.); (P.M.M.); (A.H.); (E.V.T.); (P.M.); (G.I.M.O.)
| | - Eleanor V. Tomsett
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EA, UK; (K.G.); (M.A.S.); (P.M.M.); (A.H.); (E.V.T.); (P.M.); (G.I.M.O.)
| | - Payam Mehrshahi
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EA, UK; (K.G.); (M.A.S.); (P.M.M.); (A.H.); (E.V.T.); (P.M.); (G.I.M.O.)
| | - Gonzalo I. Mendoza Ochoa
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EA, UK; (K.G.); (M.A.S.); (P.M.M.); (A.H.); (E.V.T.); (P.M.); (G.I.M.O.)
| | - Alison G. Smith
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EA, UK; (K.G.); (M.A.S.); (P.M.M.); (A.H.); (E.V.T.); (P.M.); (G.I.M.O.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +44-1223-333952
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Lu Y, Gu X, Lin H, Melis A. Engineering microalgae: transition from empirical design to programmable cells. Crit Rev Biotechnol 2021; 41:1233-1256. [PMID: 34130561 DOI: 10.1080/07388551.2021.1917507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Domesticated microalgae hold great promise for the sustainable provision of various bioresources for human domestic and industrial consumption. Efforts to exploit their potential are far from being fully realized due to limitations in the know-how of microalgal engineering. The associated technologies are not as well developed as those for heterotrophic microbes, cyanobacteria, and plants. However, recent studies on microalgal metabolic engineering, genome editing, and synthetic biology have immensely helped to enhance transformation efficiencies and are bringing new insights into this field. Therefore, this article, summarizes recent developments in microalgal biotechnology and examines the prospects for generating specialty and commodity products through the processes of metabolic engineering and synthetic biology. After a brief examination of empirical engineering methods and vector design, this article focuses on quantitative transformation cassette design, elaborates on target editing methods and emerging digital design of algal cellular metabolism to arrive at high yields of valuable products. These advances have enabled a transition of manners in microalgal engineering from single-gene and enzyme-based metabolic engineering to systems-level precision engineering, from cells created with genetically modified (GM) tags to that without GM tags, and ultimately from proof of concept to tangible industrial applications. Finally, future trends are proposed in microalgal engineering, aiming to establish individualized transformation systems in newly identified species for strain-specific specialty and commodity products, while developing sophisticated universal toolkits in model algal species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yandu Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in the South China Sea, College of Oceanology, Hainan University, Haikou, China.,Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Xinping Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in the South China Sea, College of Oceanology, Hainan University, Haikou, China
| | - Hanzhi Lin
- Institute of Marine & Environmental Technology, Center for Environmental Science, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Anastasios Melis
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Yu Z, Geisler K, Leontidou T, Young RE, Vonlanthen SE, Purton S, Abell C, Smith AG. Droplet-based microfluidic screening and sorting of microalgal populations for strain engineering applications. ALGAL RES 2021; 56:None. [PMID: 34084707 PMCID: PMC8139872 DOI: 10.1016/j.algal.2021.102293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2020] [Revised: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The application of microfluidic technologies to microalgal research is particularly appealing since these approaches allow the precise control of the extracellular environment and offer a high-throughput approach to studying dynamic cellular processes. To expand the portfolio of applications, here we present a droplet-based microfluidic method for analysis and screening of Phaeodactylum tricornutum and Nannochloropsis gaditana, which can be integrated into a genetic transformation workflow. Following encapsulation of single cells in picolitre-sized droplets, fluorescence signals arising from each cell can be used to assess its phenotypic state. In this work, the chlorophyll fluorescence intensity of each cell was quantified and used to identify populations of P. tricornutum cells grown in different light conditions. Further, individual P. tricornutum or N. gaditana cells engineered to express green fluorescent protein were distinguished and sorted from wild-type cells. This has been exploited as a rapid screen for transformed cells within a population, bypassing a major bottleneck in algal transformation workflows and offering an alternative strategy for the identification of genetically modified strains. Droplet-based microfluidic systems are promising tools for algal single cell analysis. Improved intracellular fluorescence detection allows effective sorting of algae cells. The physiological status of single encapsulated algae cells can be determined. Sorting in microdroplets enables faster identification of transformed cells.
Collapse
|
18
|
Sanchez-Tarre V, Kiparissides A. The effects of illumination and trophic strategy on gene expression in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. ALGAL RES 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.algal.2021.102186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
|
19
|
Zhang MP, Wang M, Wang C. Nuclear transformation of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii: A review. Biochimie 2020; 181:1-11. [PMID: 33227342 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2020.11.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2020] [Revised: 06/14/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is a model organism with three sequenced genomes capable of genetic transformation. C. reinhardtii has the advantages of being low cost, non-toxic, and having a post-translational modification system that ensures the recombinant proteins have the same activity as natural proteins, thus making it a great platform for application in molecular biology and other fields. In this review, we summarize the existing methods for nuclear transformation of C. reinhardtii, genes for selection, examples of foreign protein expression, and factors affecting transformation efficiency, to provide insights into effective strategies for the nuclear transformation of C. reinhardtii.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Meng-Ping Zhang
- College of Biotechnology, Sichuan University of Science and Engineering, Zigong, 643000, Sichuan province, China
| | - Mou Wang
- College of Biotechnology, Sichuan University of Science and Engineering, Zigong, 643000, Sichuan province, China
| | - Chuan Wang
- College of Biotechnology, Sichuan University of Science and Engineering, Zigong, 643000, Sichuan province, China.
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Cochrane RR, Brumwell SL, Shrestha A, Giguere DJ, Hamadache S, Gloor GB, Edgell DR, Karas BJ. Cloning of Thalassiosira pseudonana's Mitochondrial Genome in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Escherichia coli. BIOLOGY 2020; 9:E358. [PMID: 33114477 PMCID: PMC7693118 DOI: 10.3390/biology9110358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2020] [Revised: 10/20/2020] [Accepted: 10/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Algae are attractive organisms for biotechnology applications such as the production of biofuels, medicines, and other high-value compounds due to their genetic diversity, varied physical characteristics, and metabolic processes. As new species are being domesticated, rapid nuclear and organelle genome engineering methods need to be developed or optimized. To that end, we have previously demonstrated that the mitochondrial genome of microalgae Phaeodactylum tricornutum can be cloned and engineered in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Escherichia coli. Here, we show that the same approach can be used to clone mitochondrial genomes of another microalga, Thalassiosira pseudonana. We have demonstrated that these genomes can be cloned in S. cerevisiae as easily as those of P. tricornutum, but they are less stable when propagated in E. coli. Specifically, after approximately 60 generations of propagation in E. coli, 17% of cloned T. pseudonana mitochondrial genomes contained deletions compared to 0% of previously cloned P. tricornutum mitochondrial genomes. This genome instability is potentially due to the lower G+C DNA content of T. pseudonana (30%) compared to P. tricornutum (35%). Consequently, the previously established method can be applied to clone T. pseudonana's mitochondrial genome, however, more frequent analyses of genome integrity will be required following propagation in E. coli prior to use in downstream applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Bogumil J. Karas
- Department of Biochemistry, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada; (R.R.C.); (S.L.B.); (A.S.); (D.J.G.); (S.H.); (G.B.G.); (D.R.E.)
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Teng SY, Yew GY, Sukačová K, Show PL, Máša V, Chang JS. Microalgae with artificial intelligence: A digitalized perspective on genetics, systems and products. Biotechnol Adv 2020; 44:107631. [PMID: 32931875 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2020.107631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2020] [Revised: 09/08/2020] [Accepted: 09/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
With recent advances in novel gene-editing tools such as RNAi, ZFNs, TALENs, and CRISPR-Cas9, the possibility of altering microalgae toward designed properties for various application is becoming a reality. Alteration of microalgae genomes can modify metabolic pathways to give elevated yields in lipids, biomass, and other components. The potential of such genetically optimized microalgae can give a "domino effect" in further providing optimization leverages down the supply chain, in aspects such as cultivation, processing, system design, process integration, and revolutionary products. However, the current level of understanding the functional information of various microalgae gene sequences is still primitive and insufficient as microalgae genome sequences are long and complex. From this perspective, this work proposes to link up this knowledge gap between microalgae genetic information and optimized bioproducts using Artificial Intelligence (AI). With the recent acceleration of AI research, large and complex data from microalgae research can be properly analyzed by combining the cutting-edge of both fields. In this work, the most suitable class of AI algorithms (such as active learning, semi-supervised learning, and meta-learning) are discussed for different cases of microalgae applications. This work concisely reviews the current state of the research milestones and highlight some of the state-of-art that has been carried out, providing insightful future pathways. The utilization of AI algorithms in microalgae cultivation, system optimization, and other aspects of the supply chain is also discussed. This work opens the pathway to a digitalized future for microalgae research and applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sin Yong Teng
- Brno University of Technology, Institute of Process Engineering, Technická 2896/2, 616 69, Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Guo Yong Yew
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Nottingham Malaysia, Jalan Broga, 43500 Semenyih, Selangor, Malaysia.
| | - Kateřina Sukačová
- Global Change Research Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Bělidla 986/4a, Brno 603 00, Czech Republic.
| | - Pau Loke Show
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Nottingham Malaysia, Jalan Broga, 43500 Semenyih, Selangor, Malaysia.
| | - Vítězslav Máša
- Brno University of Technology, Institute of Process Engineering, Technická 2896/2, 616 69, Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Jo-Shu Chang
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, College of Engineering, Tunghai University, Taichung 407, Taiwan; Department of Chemical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan; Research Center for Smart Sustainable Circular Economy, Tunghai University, Taichung 407, Taiwan.
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Rosales-Mendoza S, García-Silva I, González-Ortega O, Sandoval-Vargas JM, Malla A, Vimolmangkang S. The Potential of Algal Biotechnology to Produce Antiviral Compounds and Biopharmaceuticals. Molecules 2020; 25:E4049. [PMID: 32899754 PMCID: PMC7571207 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25184049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2020] [Revised: 08/31/2020] [Accepted: 09/01/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The emergence of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus has led to an unprecedented pandemic, which demands urgent development of antiviral drugs and antibodies; as well as prophylactic approaches, namely vaccines. Algae biotechnology has much to offer in this scenario given the diversity of such organisms, which are a valuable source of antiviral and anti-inflammatory compounds that can also be used to produce vaccines and antibodies. Antivirals with possible activity against SARS-CoV-2 are summarized, based on previously reported activity against Coronaviruses or other enveloped or respiratory viruses. Moreover, the potential of algae-derived anti-inflammatory compounds to treat severe cases of COVID-19 is contemplated. The scenario of producing biopharmaceuticals in recombinant algae is presented and the cases of algae-made vaccines targeting viral diseases is highlighted as valuable references for the development of anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. Successful cases in the production of functional antibodies are described. Perspectives on how specific algae species and genetic engineering techniques can be applied for the production of anti-viral compounds antibodies and vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 are provided.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Rosales-Mendoza
- Laboratorio de Biofarmacéuticos Recombinantes, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Av. Dr. Manuel Nava 6, San Luis Potosí 78210, Mexico; (I.G.-S.); (O.G.-O.); (J.M.S.-V.)
- Sección de Biotecnología, Centro de Investigación en Ciencias de la Salud y Biomedicina, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Av. Sierra Leona 550, Lomas 2. Sección, San Luis Potosí 78210, Mexico
| | - Ileana García-Silva
- Laboratorio de Biofarmacéuticos Recombinantes, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Av. Dr. Manuel Nava 6, San Luis Potosí 78210, Mexico; (I.G.-S.); (O.G.-O.); (J.M.S.-V.)
- Sección de Biotecnología, Centro de Investigación en Ciencias de la Salud y Biomedicina, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Av. Sierra Leona 550, Lomas 2. Sección, San Luis Potosí 78210, Mexico
| | - Omar González-Ortega
- Laboratorio de Biofarmacéuticos Recombinantes, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Av. Dr. Manuel Nava 6, San Luis Potosí 78210, Mexico; (I.G.-S.); (O.G.-O.); (J.M.S.-V.)
| | - José M. Sandoval-Vargas
- Laboratorio de Biofarmacéuticos Recombinantes, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Av. Dr. Manuel Nava 6, San Luis Potosí 78210, Mexico; (I.G.-S.); (O.G.-O.); (J.M.S.-V.)
- Sección de Biotecnología, Centro de Investigación en Ciencias de la Salud y Biomedicina, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Av. Sierra Leona 550, Lomas 2. Sección, San Luis Potosí 78210, Mexico
| | - Ashwini Malla
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand;
- Research Unit for Plant-Produced Pharmaceuticals, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Sornkanok Vimolmangkang
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand;
- Research Unit for Plant-Produced Pharmaceuticals, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Achievements and challenges of genetic engineering of the model green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. ALGAL RES 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.algal.2020.101986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
|
24
|
Dehghani J, Adibkia K, Movafeghi A, Pourseif MM, Omidi Y. Designing a new generation of expression toolkits for engineering of green microalgae; robust production of human interleukin-2. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 10:259-268. [PMID: 32983942 PMCID: PMC7502910 DOI: 10.34172/bi.2020.33] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Revised: 06/17/2020] [Accepted: 06/29/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
![]()
Introduction: Attributable to some critical features especially the similarity of the protein synthesis machinery between humans and microalgae, these microorganisms can be utilized for the expression of many recombinant proteins. However, low and unstable gene expression levels prevent the further development of microalgae biotechnology towards protein production.
Methods: Here, we designed a novel "Gained Agrobacterium -2A plasmid for microalgae expression" (named GAME plasmid) for the production of the human interleukin-2 using three model microalgae, including Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, Chlorella vulgaris , and Dunaliella salina . The GAME plasmid harbors a native chimeric hsp70/Int-1/rbcS2 promoter, the microalgae specific Kozak sequence, a novel hybrid 2A peptide, and Int-1 and Int-3 of the rbcS2 gene in its expression cassette.
Results: The obtained data confirmed that the GAME plasmid can transform the microalgae with high transformation frequency. Molecular and proteomic analyses revealed the stable and robust production of the hIL-2 by the GAME plasmid in the microalgae. According to the densimetric analysis, the microalgae can accumulate the produced protein about 0.94% of the total soluble protein content. The ELISA data confirmed that the produced hIL-2 possesses the same conformation pattern with the acceptable biological activity found naturally in humans.
Conclusion: Most therapeutic proteins need post-translational modifications for their correct conformation, biological function, and half-life. Accordingly, microalgae could be considered as a cost-effective and more powerful platform for the production of a wide range of recombinant proteins such as antibodies, enzymes, hormones, and vaccines.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jaber Dehghani
- Research Center for Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology, Biomedicine Institute, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.,Department of Plant Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Khosro Adibkia
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Ali Movafeghi
- Department of Plant Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Mohammad M Pourseif
- Research Center for Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology, Biomedicine Institute, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Yadollah Omidi
- Research Center for Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology, Biomedicine Institute, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.,Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.,Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33328, USA
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Kim SY, Kim KW, Kwon YM, Kim JYH. mCherry Protein as an In Vivo Quantitative Reporter of Gene Expression in the Chloroplast of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Mol Biotechnol 2020; 62:297-305. [PMID: 32185599 DOI: 10.1007/s12033-020-00249-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Microalgal chloroplasts have a substantial potential as a sustainable alternative to conventional hosts for recombinant protein production, due to their photosynthetic ability. However, realization of microalgal chloroplast as a platform for the production of recombinant proteins has suffered from difficulties in genetic manipulation and development of molecular tools, including reporter proteins. Here, we investigated the suitability of a fluorescent protein, mCherry, as a reporter for quantitative in vivo monitoring of gene expression in the chloroplast of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. By analyzing cell growth, the fluorescence intensity of a mCherry-expressing strain, as well as auto-fluorescence, under different photoautotrophic culture conditions, we demonstrated a strong correlation between the fluorescence intensity of mCherry expressed in the chloroplast and its protein expression level. In addition, we found that the supply of CO2 and light energy can be an important factor for the synthesis of recombinant proteins in the microalgal chloroplast. Our results identified mCherry as a reliable and quantitative reporter for the study of gene expression in chloroplasts, which is essential for the biotechnological application of microalgal chloroplasts and for improved production of valuable recombinant proteins.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sun Young Kim
- Department of Applied Research, National Marine Biodiversity Institute of Korea, Jangsan-ro 101-75, Seocheon-gun, Chungcheongnam-do, 33662, South Korea
| | - Kyung Woo Kim
- Department of Applied Research, National Marine Biodiversity Institute of Korea, Jangsan-ro 101-75, Seocheon-gun, Chungcheongnam-do, 33662, South Korea
| | - Yong Min Kwon
- Department of Applied Research, National Marine Biodiversity Institute of Korea, Jangsan-ro 101-75, Seocheon-gun, Chungcheongnam-do, 33662, South Korea
| | - Jaoon Young Hwan Kim
- Department of Applied Research, National Marine Biodiversity Institute of Korea, Jangsan-ro 101-75, Seocheon-gun, Chungcheongnam-do, 33662, South Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Towards a new avenue for producing therapeutic proteins: Microalgae as a tempting green biofactory. Biotechnol Adv 2020; 40:107499. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2019.107499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2019] [Revised: 10/02/2019] [Accepted: 12/17/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
|
27
|
Kim JW, Park SB, Tran QG, Cho DH, Choi DY, Lee YJ, Kim HS. Functional expression of polyethylene terephthalate-degrading enzyme (PETase) in green microalgae. Microb Cell Fact 2020; 19:97. [PMID: 32345276 PMCID: PMC7189453 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-020-01355-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2020] [Accepted: 04/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND For decades, plastic has been a valuable global product due to its convenience and low price. For example, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) was one of the most popular materials for disposable bottles due to its beneficial properties, namely impact resistance, high clarity, and light weight. Increasing demand of plastic resulted in indiscriminate disposal by consumers, causing severe accumulation of plastic wastes. Because of this, scientists have made great efforts to find a way to biologically treat plastic wastes. As a result, a novel plastic degradation enzyme, PETase, which can hydrolyze PET, was discovered in Ideonella sakaiensis 201-F6 in 2016. RESULTS A green algae, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, which produces PETase, was developed for this study. Two representative strains (C. reinhardtii CC-124 and CC-503) were examined, and we found that CC-124 could express PETase well. To verify the catalytic activity of PETase produced by C. reinhardtii, cell lysate of the transformant and PET samples were co-incubated at 30 °C for up to 4 weeks. After incubation, terephthalic acid (TPA), i.e. the fully-degraded form of PET, was detected by high performance liquid chromatography analysis. Additionally, morphological changes, such as holes and dents on the surface of PET film, were observed using scanning electron microscopy. CONCLUSIONS A PET hydrolyzing enzyme, PETase, was successfully expressed in C. reinhardtii, and its catalytic activity was demonstrated. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of PETase expression in green algae.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ji Won Kim
- Cell Factory Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea.,Department of Environmental Biotechnology, KRIBB School of Biotechnology, University of Science & Technology (UST), Daejeon, 34113, Republic of Korea
| | - Su-Bin Park
- Cell Factory Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea.,Department of Environmental Biotechnology, KRIBB School of Biotechnology, University of Science & Technology (UST), Daejeon, 34113, Republic of Korea
| | - Quynh-Giao Tran
- Cell Factory Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea.,Department of Environmental Biotechnology, KRIBB School of Biotechnology, University of Science & Technology (UST), Daejeon, 34113, Republic of Korea
| | - Dae-Hyun Cho
- Cell Factory Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong-Yun Choi
- Cell Factory Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong Jae Lee
- Cell Factory Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea.
| | - Hee-Sik Kim
- Cell Factory Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea. .,Department of Environmental Biotechnology, KRIBB School of Biotechnology, University of Science & Technology (UST), Daejeon, 34113, Republic of Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Rosales-Mendoza S, Solís-Andrade KI, Márquez-Escobar VA, González-Ortega O, Bañuelos-Hernandez B. Current advances in the algae-made biopharmaceuticals field. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2020; 20:751-766. [DOI: 10.1080/14712598.2020.1739643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Rosales-Mendoza
- Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, México
- Sección de Biotecnología, Centro de Investigación en Ciencias de la Salud y Biomedicina, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, México
| | - Karla I. Solís-Andrade
- Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, México
- Sección de Biotecnología, Centro de Investigación en Ciencias de la Salud y Biomedicina, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, México
| | - Verónica A. Márquez-Escobar
- Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, México
- Sección de Biotecnología, Centro de Investigación en Ciencias de la Salud y Biomedicina, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, México
| | - Omar González-Ortega
- Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, México
| | | |
Collapse
|
29
|
Torres-Tiji Y, Fields FJ, Mayfield SP. Microalgae as a future food source. Biotechnol Adv 2020; 41:107536. [PMID: 32194145 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2020.107536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 171] [Impact Index Per Article: 42.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2019] [Revised: 02/25/2020] [Accepted: 03/02/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
One of the key challenges that we face in the 21st century is the need to feed an ever-increasing human population with increasingly limited natural resources. Even today it is estimated that roughly 1 out of 9 people in the world are undernourished, of which the most important factor is protein-energy malnutrition. By establishing microalgae as a new food and feed platform, we have the opportunity to increase the supply of these essential products to address global demands in a more efficient and environmentally sustainable way. Many types of algae are nutritionally complete foods, their yields outperform most plant crops, and there is a growing set of tools to develop improved strains of algae. Similar improvements were achieved in traditional crops through thousands of years of breeding and strain selection, whereas with the newest genetic engineering tools and advanced strain selection techniques, similar changes can be implemented in microalgae in just a few years. Here we describe different strategies that could be used to enhance the nutritional content, productivity, and organoleptic traits of algae to help drive development of this new crop. Clearly developing more efficient, sustainable, and nutritious foods and feed would be an enormous benefit for the planet, and algae represents an opportunity to develop a new crop that would complement traditional agriculture, and one that could potential result in a more efficient means to meet the world's food and feed supply.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yasin Torres-Tiji
- The California Center for Algae Biotechnology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
| | - Francis J Fields
- The California Center for Algae Biotechnology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Stephen P Mayfield
- The California Center for Algae Biotechnology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Ng I, Keskin BB, Tan S. A Critical Review of Genome Editing and Synthetic Biology Applications in Metabolic Engineering of Microalgae and Cyanobacteria. Biotechnol J 2020; 15:e1900228. [DOI: 10.1002/biot.201900228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2019] [Revised: 02/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- I‐Son Ng
- Department of Chemical EngineeringNational Cheng Kung University Tainan 701 Taiwan
| | - Batuhan Birol Keskin
- Department of Chemical EngineeringNational Cheng Kung University Tainan 701 Taiwan
| | - Shih‐I Tan
- Department of Chemical EngineeringNational Cheng Kung University Tainan 701 Taiwan
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Molina-Márquez A, Vila M, Rengel R, Fernández E, García-Maroto F, Vigara J, León R. Validation of a New Multicistronic Plasmid for the Efficient and Stable Expression of Transgenes in Microalgae. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E718. [PMID: 31979077 PMCID: PMC7037629 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21030718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2019] [Revised: 01/18/2020] [Accepted: 01/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Low stability of transgenes and high variability of their expression levels among the obtained transformants are still pending challenges in the nuclear genetic transformation of microalgae. We have generated a new multicistronic microalgal expression plasmid, called Phyco69, to make easier the large phenotypic screening usually necessary for the selection of high-expression stable clones. This plasmid contains a polylinker region (PLK) where any gene of interest (GOI) can be inserted and get linked, through a short viral self-cleaving peptide to the amino terminus of the aminoglycoside 3'-phosphotransferase (APHVIII) from Streptomyces rimosus, which confers resistance to the antibiotic paromomycin. The plasmid has been validated by expressing a second antibiotic resistance marker, the ShBLE gene, which confers resistance to phleomycin. It has been shown, by RT-PCR and by phenotypic studies, that the fusion of the GOI to the selective marker gene APHVIII provides a simple method to screen and select the transformants with the highest level of expression of both the APHVIII gene and the GOI among the obtained transformants. Immunodetection studies have shown that the multicistronic transcript generated from Phyco69 is correctly processed, producing independent gene products from a common promoter.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ana Molina-Márquez
- Laboratory of Biochemistry. Faculty of Experimental Sciences. Marine International Campus of Excellence and RENSMA. University of Huelva, 21071 Huelva, Spain; (M.V.); (R.R.); (J.V.); (R.L.)
| | - Marta Vila
- Laboratory of Biochemistry. Faculty of Experimental Sciences. Marine International Campus of Excellence and RENSMA. University of Huelva, 21071 Huelva, Spain; (M.V.); (R.R.); (J.V.); (R.L.)
| | - Rocío Rengel
- Laboratory of Biochemistry. Faculty of Experimental Sciences. Marine International Campus of Excellence and RENSMA. University of Huelva, 21071 Huelva, Spain; (M.V.); (R.R.); (J.V.); (R.L.)
| | - Emilio Fernández
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. University of Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain;
| | - Federico García-Maroto
- Laboratory of Biotechnology of Natural Products, Agro-feed International Excellence campus, University of Almería, 04071 Almería, Spain;
| | - Javier Vigara
- Laboratory of Biochemistry. Faculty of Experimental Sciences. Marine International Campus of Excellence and RENSMA. University of Huelva, 21071 Huelva, Spain; (M.V.); (R.R.); (J.V.); (R.L.)
| | - Rosa León
- Laboratory of Biochemistry. Faculty of Experimental Sciences. Marine International Campus of Excellence and RENSMA. University of Huelva, 21071 Huelva, Spain; (M.V.); (R.R.); (J.V.); (R.L.)
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Poliner E, Clark E, Cummings C, Benning C, Farre EM. A high-capacity gene stacking toolkit for the oleaginous microalga, Nannochloropsis oceanica CCMP1779. ALGAL RES 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.algal.2019.101664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
|
33
|
Towards a biotechnological platform for the production of human pro-angiogenic growth factors in the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2019; 104:725-739. [PMID: 31822980 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-019-10267-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2019] [Revised: 11/13/2019] [Accepted: 11/22/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The recent use of photosynthetic organisms such as Chlamydomonas reinhardtii in biomedical applications has demonstrated their potential for the treatment of acute and chronic tissue hypoxia. Moreover, transgenic microalgae have been suggested as an alternative in situ drug delivery system. In this study, we set out to identify the best available combination of strains and expression vectors to establish a robust platform for the expression of human pro-angiogenic growth factors, i.e., hVEGF-165, hPDGF-B, and hSDF-1, in biomedical settings. As a case study, combinations of two expression vectors (pOpt and pBC1) and two C. reinhardtii strains (UVM4 and UVM11) were compared with respect to hVEGF-165 transgene expression by determination of steady-state levels of transgenic transcripts and immunological detection of recombinant proteins produced and secreted by the generated strains. The results revealed the combination of the UVM11 strain with the pBC1 vector to be the most efficient one for high-level hVEGF-165 production. To assess the robustness of this finding, the selected combination was used to create hPDGF-B and hSDF-1 transgenic strains for optimized recombinant protein expression. Furthermore, biological activity and functionality of algal-produced recombinant pro-angiogenic growth factors were assessed by receptor phosphorylation and in vitro angiogenesis assays. The results obtained revealed a potentiating effect in the combinatorial application of transgenic strains expressing either of the three growth factors on endothelial cell tube formation ability, and thus support the idea of using transgenic algae expressing pro-angiogenic growth factors in wound healing approaches.
Collapse
|
34
|
Good News for Nuclear Transgene Expression in Chlamydomonas. Cells 2019; 8:cells8121534. [PMID: 31795196 PMCID: PMC6952782 DOI: 10.3390/cells8121534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2019] [Revised: 11/13/2019] [Accepted: 11/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is a well-established model system for basic research questions ranging from photosynthesis and organelle biogenesis, to the biology of cilia and basal bodies, to channelrhodopsins and photoreceptors. More recently, Chlamydomonas has also been recognized as a suitable host for the production of high-value chemicals and high-value recombinant proteins. However, basic and applied research have suffered from the inefficient expression of nuclear transgenes. The combined efforts of the Chlamydomonas community over the past decades have provided insights into the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon and have resulted in mutant strains defective in some silencing mechanisms. Moreover, many insights have been gained into the parameters that affect nuclear transgene expression, like promoters, introns, codon usage, or terminators. Here I critically review these insights and try to integrate them into design suggestions for the construction of nuclear transgenes that are to be expressed at high levels.
Collapse
|
35
|
Gonzalez-Esquer CR, Wright KT, Sudasinghe N, Carr CK, Sanders CK, Turmo A, Kerfeld CA, Twary S, Dale T. Demonstration of the potential of Picochlorum soloecismus as a microalgal platform for the production of renewable fuels. ALGAL RES 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.algal.2019.101658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
|
36
|
Dahlin LR, Gerritsen AT, Henard CA, Van Wychen S, Linger JG, Kunde Y, Hovde BT, Starkenburg SR, Posewitz MC, Guarnieri MT. Development of a high-productivity, halophilic, thermotolerant microalga Picochlorum renovo. Commun Biol 2019; 2:388. [PMID: 31667362 PMCID: PMC6811619 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-019-0620-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2019] [Accepted: 09/10/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Microalgae are promising biocatalysts for applications in sustainable fuel, food, and chemical production. Here, we describe culture collection screening, down-selection, and development of a high-productivity, halophilic, thermotolerant microalga, Picochlorum renovo. This microalga displays a rapid growth rate and high diel biomass productivity (34 g m-2 day-1), with a composition well-suited for downstream processing. P. renovo exhibits broad salinity tolerance (growth at 107.5 g L-1 salinity) and thermotolerance (growth up to 40 °C), beneficial traits for outdoor cultivation. We report complete genome sequencing and analysis, and genetic tool development suitable for expression of transgenes inserted into the nuclear or chloroplast genomes. We further evaluate mechanisms of halotolerance via comparative transcriptomics, identifying novel genes differentially regulated in response to high salinity cultivation. These findings will enable basic science inquiries into control mechanisms governing Picochlorum biology and lay the foundation for development of a microalga with industrially relevant traits as a model photobiology platform.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lukas R. Dahlin
- Department of Chemistry, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO 80401 USA
| | - Alida T. Gerritsen
- Computational Science Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO 80401 USA
| | - Calvin A. Henard
- National Bioenergy Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO 80401 USA
| | - Stefanie Van Wychen
- National Bioenergy Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO 80401 USA
| | - Jeffrey G. Linger
- National Bioenergy Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO 80401 USA
| | - Yuliya Kunde
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545 USA
| | - Blake T. Hovde
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545 USA
| | | | | | - Michael T. Guarnieri
- National Bioenergy Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO 80401 USA
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Bai Y, Chen T, Happe T, Lu Y, Sawyer A. Iron-sulphur cluster biogenesis via the SUF pathway. Metallomics 2019; 10:1038-1052. [PMID: 30019043 DOI: 10.1039/c8mt00150b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Iron-sulphur (Fe-S) clusters are versatile cofactors, which are essential for key metabolic processes in cells, such as respiration and photosynthesis, and which may have also played a crucial role in establishing life on Earth. They can be found in almost all living organisms, from unicellular prokaryotes and archaea to multicellular animals and plants, and exist in diverse forms. This review focuses on the most ancient Fe-S cluster assembly system, the sulphur utilization factor (SUF) mechanism, which is crucial in bacteria for cell survival under stress conditions such as oxidation and iron starvation, and which is also present in the chloroplasts of green microalgae and plants, where it is responsible for plastidial Fe-S protein maturation. We explain the SUF Fe-S cluster assembly process, the proteins involved, their regulation and provide evolutionary insights. We specifically focus on examples from Fe-S cluster synthesis in the model organisms Escherichia coli and Arabidopsis thaliana and discuss in an in vivo context the assembly of the [FeFe]-hydrogenase H-cluster from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Y Bai
- Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China.
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
38
|
Suttangkakul A, Sirikhachornkit A, Juntawong P, Puangtame W, Chomtong T, Srifa S, Sathitnaitham S, Dumrongthawatchai W, Jariyachawalid K, Vuttipongchaikij S. Evaluation of strategies for improving the transgene expression in an oleaginous microalga Scenedesmus acutus. BMC Biotechnol 2019; 19:4. [PMID: 30630453 PMCID: PMC6327543 DOI: 10.1186/s12896-018-0497-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2018] [Accepted: 12/25/2018] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Genetic transformation of microalgae has been hampered by inefficient transgene expression, limiting the progress of microalgal biotechnology. Many vector tools and strategies have been developed in recent years to improve transgene expression in the model microalga Chlamydomonas, but these were hardly applied to other microalgae. In this work, naturally-isolated oleaginous microalgae were accessed for genetic transformation, and various expression systems were evaluated in a selected microalga to circumvent inefficient transgene expression. Results Initially, a strain of Scenedesmus acutus was selected from the oleaginous microalgal collection based on its highest transformation rate and transgene stability. This strain, which had very low or no GFP reporter expression, was first tested to improve transgene expression by using intron-containing constructs and the transcript fusion using ble::E2A. The intron-containing constructs yielded 2.5–7.5% of transformants with 2–4-fold fluorescence signals, while the majority of the transformants of the transcript fusion had the fluorescence signals up to 10-fold. Subsequently, three UV-induced S. acutus mutants were isolated with moderate increases in the level and frequency of transgene expression (2–3-fold and 10–12%, respectively). Finally, a transcript fusion system was developed using psy white mutants with an expression vector containing PSY::E2A for complementation and light selection. Transformants with green colonies were selected under light exposure, and the transgene expression was detected at protein levels. Although the improvement using PSY::E2A was only minor (1–2-fold increase and ~ 7% of transformants), this system provides an alternative selectable marker that is compatible with large-scale culture. Conclusions Here, the overall improvement of transgene expression using the Chlamydomonas tools was moderate. The most effective tool so far is the transcript fusion using ble::E2A system. This work demonstrates that, so far, genetic engineering of non-model microalgae is still a challenging task. Further development of tools and strategies for transgene expression in microalgae are critically needed. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12896-018-0497-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anongpat Suttangkakul
- Special Research Unit in Microalgal Molecular Genetics and Functional Genomics (MMGFG), Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngam Wong Wan road, Chatuchak, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand.,Center of Advanced studies for Tropical Natural Resources, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngam Wong Wan road, Chatuchak, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand
| | - Anchalee Sirikhachornkit
- Special Research Unit in Microalgal Molecular Genetics and Functional Genomics (MMGFG), Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngam Wong Wan road, Chatuchak, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand.,Center of Advanced studies for Tropical Natural Resources, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngam Wong Wan road, Chatuchak, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand
| | - Piyada Juntawong
- Special Research Unit in Microalgal Molecular Genetics and Functional Genomics (MMGFG), Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngam Wong Wan road, Chatuchak, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand.,Center of Advanced studies for Tropical Natural Resources, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngam Wong Wan road, Chatuchak, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand
| | - Wilasinee Puangtame
- Special Research Unit in Microalgal Molecular Genetics and Functional Genomics (MMGFG), Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngam Wong Wan road, Chatuchak, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand
| | - Thitikorn Chomtong
- Special Research Unit in Microalgal Molecular Genetics and Functional Genomics (MMGFG), Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngam Wong Wan road, Chatuchak, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand
| | - Suchada Srifa
- Special Research Unit in Microalgal Molecular Genetics and Functional Genomics (MMGFG), Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngam Wong Wan road, Chatuchak, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand
| | - Sukhita Sathitnaitham
- Special Research Unit in Microalgal Molecular Genetics and Functional Genomics (MMGFG), Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngam Wong Wan road, Chatuchak, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand
| | - Wasawat Dumrongthawatchai
- Special Research Unit in Microalgal Molecular Genetics and Functional Genomics (MMGFG), Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngam Wong Wan road, Chatuchak, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand
| | - Kanidtha Jariyachawalid
- PTT Research and Technology Institute, PTT Public Company Limited, Ayuthaya, 13170, Thailand
| | - Supachai Vuttipongchaikij
- Special Research Unit in Microalgal Molecular Genetics and Functional Genomics (MMGFG), Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngam Wong Wan road, Chatuchak, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand. .,Center of Advanced studies for Tropical Natural Resources, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngam Wong Wan road, Chatuchak, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand.
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
D'Adamo S, Schiano di Visconte G, Lowe G, Szaub‐Newton J, Beacham T, Landels A, Allen MJ, Spicer A, Matthijs M. Engineering the unicellular alga Phaeodactylum tricornutum for high-value plant triterpenoid production. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2019; 17:75-87. [PMID: 29754445 PMCID: PMC6330534 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.12948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2018] [Revised: 04/23/2018] [Accepted: 05/02/2018] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Plant triterpenoids constitute a diverse class of organic compounds that play a major role in development, plant defence and environmental interaction. Several triterpenes have demonstrated potential as pharmaceuticals. One example is betulin, which has shown promise as a pharmaceutical precursor for the treatment of certain cancers and HIV. Major challenges for triterpenoid commercialization include their low production levels and their cost-effective purification from the complex mixtures present in their natural hosts. Therefore, attempts to produce these compounds in industrially relevant microbial systems such as bacteria and yeasts have attracted great interest. Here, we report the production of the triterpenes betulin and its precursor lupeol in the photosynthetic diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum, a unicellular eukaryotic alga. This was achieved by introducing three plant enzymes in the microalga: a Lotus japonicus oxidosqualene cyclase and a Medicago truncatula cytochrome P450 along with its native reductase. The introduction of the L. japonicus oxidosqualene cyclase perturbed the mRNA expression levels of the native mevalonate and sterol biosynthesis pathway. The best performing strains were selected and grown in a 550-L pilot-scale photobioreactor facility. To our knowledge, this is the most extensive pathway engineering undertaken in a diatom and the first time that a sapogenin has been artificially produced in a microalga, demonstrating the feasibility of the photo-bio-production of more complex high-value, metabolites in microalgae.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah D'Adamo
- Eden LaboratoryAlgenuityStewartbyUK
- Wageningen Universiteit en ResearchcentrumBioprocess EngineeringWageningenThe Netherlands
| | | | | | | | | | - Andrew Landels
- PML: Plymouth Marine LaboratoryPlymouthUK
- Rothamsted ResearchHarpendenUK
| | - Michael J. Allen
- PML: Plymouth Marine LaboratoryPlymouthUK
- BiosciencesCollege of Life and Environmental SciencesUniversity of ExeterExeterUK
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
40
|
Lomora M, Shumate D, Rahman AA, Pandit A. Therapeutic Applications of Phytoplankton, with an Emphasis on Diatoms and Coccolithophores. ADVANCED THERAPEUTICS 2018. [DOI: 10.1002/adtp.201800099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mihai Lomora
- SFI Centre For Research in Medical Devices (CÚRAM); National University of Ireland; Galway Ireland
| | - David Shumate
- SFI Centre For Research in Medical Devices (CÚRAM); National University of Ireland; Galway Ireland
- Georgia Institute of Technology; Atlanta GA 30332 USA
| | - Asrizal Abdul Rahman
- SFI Centre For Research in Medical Devices (CÚRAM); National University of Ireland; Galway Ireland
| | - Abhay Pandit
- SFI Centre For Research in Medical Devices (CÚRAM); National University of Ireland; Galway Ireland
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Efimova VS, Isaeva LV, Labudina AA, Tashlitsky VN, Rubtsov MA, Novikova LA. Polycistronic expression of the mitochondrial steroidogenic P450scc system in the HEK293T cell line. J Cell Biochem 2018; 120:3124-3136. [DOI: 10.1002/jcb.27577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2018] [Accepted: 08/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Vera S. Efimova
- Department of Molecular Biology Faculty of Biology, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University Moscow Russia
- LIA LFR2O (LIA French‐Russian Cancer Research Laboratory) Villejuif France – Moscow Russia
| | - Ludmila V. Isaeva
- Department of Molecular Basis on Ontogenesis A.N. Belozersky Institute of Physico‐Chemical Biology, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University Moscow Russia
| | - Anastasia A. Labudina
- Department of Molecular Biology Faculty of Biology, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University Moscow Russia
| | - Vadim N. Tashlitsky
- Division of Chemistry of Natural Compounds Faculty of Chemistry, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University Moscow Russia
| | - Mikhail A. Rubtsov
- Department of Molecular Biology Faculty of Biology, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University Moscow Russia
- LIA LFR2O (LIA French‐Russian Cancer Research Laboratory) Villejuif France – Moscow Russia
- Department of Biochemistry I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University) 119991 Moscow Russia
- Institute of Translational Medicine and Biotechnology I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University) Moscow Russia
| | - Ludmila A. Novikova
- Department of Molecular Basis on Ontogenesis A.N. Belozersky Institute of Physico‐Chemical Biology, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University Moscow Russia
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Development of an Expression Vector to Overexpress or Downregulate Genes in Curvularia protuberata. J Fungi (Basel) 2018; 4:jof4020054. [PMID: 29734743 PMCID: PMC6023383 DOI: 10.3390/jof4020054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2018] [Revised: 05/03/2018] [Accepted: 05/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Curvularia protuberata, an endophytic fungus in the Ascomycota, provides plants with thermotolerance only when it carries a mycovirus known as Curvularia thermotolerance virus (CThTV), and forms a three-way symbiotic relationship among these organisms. Under heat stress, several genes are expressed differently between virus-free C. protuberata (VF) and C. protuberata carrying CThTV (AN). We developed an expression vector, pM2Z-fun, carrying a zeocin resistance gene driven by the ToxA promoter, to study gene functions in C. protuberata to better understand this three-way symbiosis. Using this new 3.7-kb vector, five genes that are differentially expressed in C. protuberata—including genes involved in the trehalose, melanin, and catalase biosynthesis pathways—were successfully overexpressed or downregulated in VF or AN C. protuberata strains, respectively. The VF overexpression lines showed higher metabolite and enzyme activity than in the control VF strain. Furthermore, downregulation of expression of the same genes in the AN strain resulted in lower metabolite and enzyme activity than in the control AN strain. The newly generated expression vector, pM2Z-fun, has been successfully used to express target genes in C. protuberata and will be useful in further functional expression studies in other Ascomycota fungi.
Collapse
|
43
|
|
44
|
Pereira H, Schulze PS, Schüler LM, Santos T, Barreira L, Varela J. Fluorescence activated cell-sorting principles and applications in microalgal biotechnology. ALGAL RES 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.algal.2017.12.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
|
45
|
Comparison of secretory signal peptides for heterologous protein expression in microalgae: Expanding the secretion portfolio for Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0192433. [PMID: 29408937 PMCID: PMC5800701 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0192433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2017] [Accepted: 01/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Efficient protein secretion is a desirable trait for any recombinant protein expression system, together with simple, low-cost, and defined media, such as the typical media used for photosynthetic cultures of microalgae. However, low titers of secreted heterologous proteins are usually obtained, even with the most extensively studied microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, preventing their industrial application. In this study, we aimed to expand and evaluate secretory signal peptides (SP) for heterologous protein secretion in C. reinhardtii by comparing previously described SP with untested sequences. We compared the SPs from arylsulfatase 1 and carbonic anhydrase 1, with those of untried SPs from binding protein 1, an ice-binding protein, and six sequences identified in silico. We identified over 2000 unique SPs using the SignalP 4.0 software. mCherry fluorescence was used to compare the protein secretion of up to 96 colonies for each construct, non-secretion construct, and parental wild-type cc1690 cells. Supernatant fluorescence varied according to the SP used, with a 10-fold difference observed between the highest and lowest secretors. Moreover, two SPs identified in silico secreted the highest amount of mCherry. Our results demonstrate that the SP should be carefully selected and that efficient sequences can be coded in the C. reinhardtii genome. The SPs described here expand the portfolio available for research on heterologous protein secretion and for biomanufacturing applications.
Collapse
|
46
|
Tailored carbon partitioning for phototrophic production of (E)-α-bisabolene from the green microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Metab Eng 2018; 45:211-222. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ymben.2017.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2017] [Revised: 11/27/2017] [Accepted: 12/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
|
47
|
Jagadevan S, Banerjee A, Banerjee C, Guria C, Tiwari R, Baweja M, Shukla P. Recent developments in synthetic biology and metabolic engineering in microalgae towards biofuel production. BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS 2018; 11:185. [PMID: 29988523 PMCID: PMC6026345 DOI: 10.1186/s13068-018-1181-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2018] [Accepted: 06/20/2018] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
In the wake of the uprising global energy crisis, microalgae have emerged as an alternate feedstock for biofuel production. In addition, microalgae bear immense potential as bio-cell factories in terms of producing key chemicals, recombinant proteins, enzymes, lipid, hydrogen and alcohol. Abstraction of such high-value products (algal biorefinery approach) facilitates to make microalgae-based renewable energy an economically viable option. Synthetic biology is an emerging field that harmoniously blends science and engineering to help design and construct novel biological systems, with an aim to achieve rationally formulated objectives. However, resources and tools used for such nuclear manipulation, construction of synthetic gene network and genome-scale reconstruction of microalgae are limited. Herein, we present recent developments in the upcoming field of microalgae employed as a model system for synthetic biology applications and highlight the importance of genome-scale reconstruction models and kinetic models, to maximize the metabolic output by understanding the intricacies of algal growth. This review also examines the role played by microalgae as biorefineries, microalgal culture conditions and various operating parameters that need to be optimized to yield biofuel that can be economically competitive with fossil fuels.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sheeja Jagadevan
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad, Jharkhand 826004 India
| | - Avik Banerjee
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad, Jharkhand 826004 India
| | - Chiranjib Banerjee
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad, Jharkhand 826004 India
| | - Chandan Guria
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad, Jharkhand 826004 India
| | - Rameshwar Tiwari
- Enzyme Technology and Protein Bioinformatics Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, Haryana 124001 India
- Enzyme and Microbial Biochemistry Lab, Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology, Hauz-Khas, New Delhi 110016 India
| | - Mehak Baweja
- Enzyme Technology and Protein Bioinformatics Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, Haryana 124001 India
| | - Pratyoosh Shukla
- Enzyme Technology and Protein Bioinformatics Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, Haryana 124001 India
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Brodie J, Chan CX, De Clerck O, Cock JM, Coelho SM, Gachon C, Grossman AR, Mock T, Raven JA, Smith AG, Yoon HS, Bhattacharya D. The Algal Revolution. TRENDS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2017; 22:726-738. [PMID: 28610890 DOI: 10.1016/j.tplants.2017.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2017] [Revised: 05/04/2017] [Accepted: 05/16/2017] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Algae are (mostly) photosynthetic eukaryotes that occupy multiple branches of the tree of life, and are vital for planet function and health. In this review, we highlight a transformative period in studies of the evolution and functioning of this extraordinary group of organisms and their potential for novel applications, wrought by high-throughput 'omic' and reverse genetic methods. We cover the origin and diversification of algal groups, explore advances in understanding the link between phenotype and genotype, consider algal sex determination, and review progress in understanding the roots of algal multicellularity. Experimental evolution studies to determine how algae evolve in changing environments are highlighted, as is their potential as production platforms for compounds of commercial interest, such as biofuel precursors, nutraceuticals, or therapeutics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Juliet Brodie
- Natural History Museum, Department of Life Sciences, London SW7 5BD, UK
| | - Cheong Xin Chan
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Olivier De Clerck
- Research Group Phycology, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281, S8, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - J Mark Cock
- CNRS, Sorbonne Université, UPMC University Paris 06, Algal Genetics Group, UMR 8227, Integrative Biology of Marine Models, Station Biologique de Roscoff, CS 90074, Roscoff F-29688, France
| | - Susana M Coelho
- CNRS, Sorbonne Université, UPMC University Paris 06, Algal Genetics Group, UMR 8227, Integrative Biology of Marine Models, Station Biologique de Roscoff, CS 90074, Roscoff F-29688, France
| | - Claire Gachon
- Scottish Association for Marine Science, Scottish Marine Institute, Oban, PA37 1QA, UK
| | - Arthur R Grossman
- Department of Plant Biology, The Carnegie Institution, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Thomas Mock
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - John A Raven
- Permanent address: Division of Plant Sciences, University of Dundee at the James Hutton Institute, Dundee DD2 5DA, UK; School of Plant Biology, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Alison G Smith
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3EA, UK
| | - Hwan Su Yoon
- Department of Biological Sciences, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Korea
| | - Debashish Bhattacharya
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Sun H, Zhou N, Wang H, Huang D, Lang Z. Processing and targeting of proteins derived from polyprotein with 2A and LP4/2A as peptide linkers in a maize expression system. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0174804. [PMID: 28358924 PMCID: PMC5373624 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0174804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2016] [Accepted: 03/15/2017] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
In the transformation of multiple genes, gene fusion is an attractive alternative to other methods, including sexual crossing, re-transformation, and co-transformation, among others. The 2A peptide from the foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) causes the co-translational “cleavage” of polyprotein and operates in a wide variety of eukaryotic cells. LP4, a linker peptide that originates from a natural polyprotein occurring in the seed of Impatiens balsamina, can be split between the first and second amino acids in post-translational processing. LP4/2A is a hybrid linker peptide that contains the first nine amino acids of LP4 and 20 amino acids of 2A. The three linkers have been used as a suitable technique to link the expression of genes in some transgenic plants, but to date the cleavage efficiency of three linkers have not been comprehensively demonstrated in the same transformation system, especially in the staple crop. To verify the functions of 2A, LP4, and LP4/2A linker peptides in transgenic maize, six fusion protein vectors that each encoded a single open reading frame (ORF) incorporating two report genes, Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) and β-glucuronidase (GUS), separated by 2A (or modified 2A), LP4 or LP4/2A were assembled to compare the cleavage efficiency of the three linkers in a maize transient expression system. The results demonstrated the more protein production and higher cleavage splicing efficiency with the polyprotein construct linked by the LP4/2A peptide than those of the polyprotein constructs linked by 2A or LP4 alone. Seven other fusion proteins that each encoded a single ORF incorporating two different genes GFP and Red Fluorecent Protein (RFP) with different signal peptides were assembled to study the subcellular localization of genes linked by LP4/2A. The subcellular localization experiments suggested that both types of signal peptide, co-translational and post-translational, could lead their proteins to the target localization in maize protoplast transformed by LP4/2A polyprotein construct and it implied the LP4/2A linker peptide could alleviate the inhibition of 2A processing by the carboxy-terminal region of upstream protein of 2A when translocated into the ER.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- He Sun
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ni Zhou
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Hai Wang
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Dafang Huang
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhihong Lang
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Lv B, Wan L, Taschner M, Cheng X, Lorentzen E, Huang K. Intraflagellar transport protein IFT52 recruits IFT46 to the basal body and flagella. J Cell Sci 2017; 130:1662-1674. [PMID: 28302912 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.200758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2016] [Accepted: 03/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Cilia are microtubule-based organelles and perform motile, sensing and signaling functions. The assembly and maintenance of cilia depend on intraflagellar transport (IFT). Besides ciliary localization, most IFT proteins accumulate at basal bodies. However, little is known about the molecular mechanism of basal body targeting of IFT proteins. We first identified the possible basal body-targeting sequence in IFT46 by expressing IFT46 truncation constructs in an ift46-1 mutant. The C-terminal sequence between residues 246-321, termed BBTS3, was sufficient to target YFP to basal bodies in the ift46-1 strain. Interestingly, BBTS3 is also responsible for the ciliary targeting of IFT46. BBTS3::YFP moves bidirectionally in flagella and interacts with other IFT complex B (IFT-B) proteins. Using IFT and motor mutants, we show that the basal body localization of IFT46 depends on IFT52, but not on IFT81, IFT88, IFT122, FLA10 or DHC1b. IFT52 interacts with IFT46 through residues L285 and L286 of IFT46 and recruits it to basal bodies. Ectopic expression of the C-terminal domain of IFT52 in the nucleus resulted in accumulation of IFT46 in nuclei. These data suggest that IFT52 and IFT46 can preassemble as a complex in the cytoplasm, which is then targeted to basal bodies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bo Lv
- Key Laboratory of Algal Biology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei 430072, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100039, China
| | - Lei Wan
- Key Laboratory of Algal Biology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei 430072, China
| | - Michael Taschner
- Department of Structural Cell Biology, Max-Planck-Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried D-82152, Germany
| | - Xi Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Algal Biology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei 430072, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100039, China
| | - Esben Lorentzen
- Department of Structural Cell Biology, Max-Planck-Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried D-82152, Germany
| | - Kaiyao Huang
- Key Laboratory of Algal Biology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei 430072, China
| |
Collapse
|